Introduction

Antioch’s CACREP-accredited Master’s in Counseling program accepts students from all undergraduate degrees looking to learn how to make a positive impact on those who need help the most. The program prepares you to work as a professional counselor to promote mental health, well-being and social justice for a diverse, multicultural and global community.

This degree is offered by AU New England

Program Overview

Our online counseling degree program, offered on our Online campus, includes online courses, an intensive residential colloquium, and experiential learning in fieldwork focused on the development of your professional identity. Our faculty encourages an active, thorough, and continued examination of your development in the role of a professional counselor.

This CACREP-accredited counselor education program, with a specialty area in clinical mental health counseling, trains students in eight (8) core areas: professional counseling orientation and ethical practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, counseling and helping relationships, group counseling and group work, assessment and testing, and research and program evaluation.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program is part of the Department of Applied Psychology (AP) at Antioch University New England (AUNE) in Keene, NH. The CMHC Program is offered at two sites: Keene Campus and Online Campus.

Ranked in the Top 20 for Counseling Programs

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Mission of the CMHC Program
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program fosters the development of professional identity by encouraging an active, thorough, and continuing examination of the development of one’s self in the role of a professional counselor (self-in-role). The program prepares professional counselors to work in a multicultural global community with individuals, groups, and social systems, to promote mental health and well-being.

Degree Requirements

Program Length:

The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling typically takes three years to complete. You should expect to spend approximately nine hours per week on each course, in addition to 20 hours a week onsite at a clinical setting in your area when your practicum and internships begin. Students must pass a candidacy review before being authorized to begin practicum. We encourage you to plan your life carefully to accommodate the increased investment of time and energy in your professional education.

Electives (Choose 3 courses @ 3 credits = 9 credits)Students have the opportunity to take elective courses in the following areas: Trauma, Military Counseling, and Substance Abuse/Addiction.

Course Offerings

Antioch’s CMHC Program is offered at two sites, Keene Campus (in NH) and Online Campus. The Keene Campus has courses that are both face-to-face and online; the Online Campus includes online courses, that are both asynchronous and synchronous. Students who enroll in the Online Campus participate in two (2) separate week-long face-to-face residencies. Online courses are offered using Sakai and Engage.

Practicum and Internships

Practicum introduces you to work in the field with a minimum of 100 hours of service at a clinical site, including a minimum of 40 hours working directly with clients. You learn the policy of the agency and the roles of the mental health counselor. You spend approximately 20-hours a week in practicum for at least one semester. Before beginning, practicum students must pass a candidacy review assessing their readiness to begin supervised fieldwork.

Following practicum, there are three internship semesters. These may continue at the same site as the practicum or take place at a new site. You spend approximately 20 hours a week at your clinical site and provide approximately 300 hours of service each semester, with a minimum of 120 hours of direct service to clients during each of these internship semesters. State requirements for pre-degree internship hours vary. Review your state requirements for more information.

There are many possible positions at community agencies, residential facilities, college counseling centers, and city/state social service agencies. The Director of Field Experience, as well as the Clinical Training Coordinator, will assist you in the process of matching your interests with potential sites in the community. Students are responsible for securing their own internship and for transportation to and from the site.

Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statisticsprojects a strong need for mental health counselors. Counseling is projected as one of the faster growing mental health professions — increasing over the next 7-10 years.

Graduates of the CMHC Program will have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to function as a professional clinical mental health counselor. They will be prepared for employment in a variety of settings and able to meet certification and licensure standards as mental health counselors, through education in a CACREP accredited program.

Program Objectives (also referred to as Learning Outcomes)

Ethical Practice: Students will demonstrate principles and standards of professional ethics in counseling and ethical decision-making informed by social justice.

Social And Cultural Diversity: Identify strategies needed to address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, well-being, and success for clients.

Human Growth and Development: Students will demonstrate knowledge of lifespan development and the capacity to integrate knowledge of developmental theory into practice.

Career Development: Identify career development strategies that incorporate a focus on social justice and advocacy.

Counseling and Helping Relationships: Demonstrate an understanding of theories of counseling and development of case conceptualizations and treatment plans that are underpinned by social justice

Group Counseling and Group Work: Integrate into their practice of MHC the awareness of the influence of social and cultural contexts on groups

Assessment and Testing: Students will demonstrate a broad understanding of different types of assessments, the selection and use of assessment tools, client assessment and diagnosis, trauma assessment, and the assessment of self-inflicted harm and danger to others.

Research and Program Evaluation: Demonstrate and apply their professional identity as a clinical mental health counselor through an individual philosophy of practice grounded in critical analysis and research and interpretation.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialty Area: Clinical Mental Health Counseling students will demonstrate an understanding of foundational knowledge, demonstration of competence in clinical mental health practice, knowledge of social justice issues, and a focus on wellness.

Professional Dispositions: From admission through exit, students will demonstrate the attitudes, characteristics, and behaviors defined by the program as characteristic of exemplar counseling professionals.

Admissions

The CMHC program values diversity and encourages students of all backgrounds to apply for admission to the program. The faculty strive to create and support an inclusive learning community that meets the different learning styles of students admitted to the program. Students are encouraged to foster relationships with their peers through class discussions and small group activities.

How to Apply

Complete the online admissions application, including:

Essay questions, admissions and program-specific

Resume/curriculum vitae (CV)

Non-refundable $50 application fee

Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities where you earned a degree or certificate (A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred)

Two letters of recommendation are required, from people who are in a position to evaluate your professional (e.g., supervisor, colleague) or academic (e.g., faculty) work. The person making the recommendation may not be related to you.

There are additional requirements for International applicants and applicants without a Bachelor’s degree

Interview with the CMHC Program admissions committee, if selected. This interview will be conducted via Zoom (video conferencing).

Master’s and Certificate Programs do not require the GRE or any other standardized test for admissions. We consider all of your application materials, and evaluate your academic potential in a variety of ways.

Additional Info

Licensure

Graduates of the CMHC Program may apply for professional credentials recognizing their level of training and experience. Credentials may be granted by national professional boards/organizations or by state regulatory boards.

The CMHC Program recognizes the importance of licensure and certification for professional practice. The legislature in each state establishes the criteria for licensure and an appointed board determines if an individual’s education and experience meet their standards. The AP Department has designed its programs to be consistent with the standards of the representative professional organizations. Individual states, many of which base their legislation on professional organization’s standards, vary as to specific coursework, number of hours of supervised practice, supervisor qualification, and other required criteria. While the department offers coursework and internships that allow students to put together a licensable portfolio, it cannot guarantee licensure. Students with any negative results on a criminal background check should inquire with the state board in advance to determine if the results of their background will hinder their ability to become licensed in their state.

As graduates of a CACREP accredited program, students are eligible to obtain full certification as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) upon graduation after passing the National Counselor Exam offered in April of their final year and completing the required applications. See the NBCC website for information on this process. Graduates self-reported pass rate on the NBCC exam is 80%.

Students will learn about the steps to licensure for the state in which they plan to pursue licensure in the Professional Orientation and Ethics course, however, students are responsible for knowing the expectations of the state in which they plan to apply. Students should actively consult their state’s counseling board for the most recent information about professional licensure. Faculty are available to consult with students and the following websites are helpful when navigating the licensure process: